Microsoft's launch of Windows 10 means that DirectX 12, the next generation of its 3D graphics APIs for PC games, is also officially available. However, graphics chip maker NVIDIA has revealed that the drivers for its older Fermi-based GPUs still do not support DirectX 12.
Previously NVIDIA said that its Fermi (400 and 500 series), Kepler (600 and 700 series) and the new Maxwell (750 and 900 series) GPUs would all support DirectX 12. However, an updated support document confirms that the older Fermi series are still using the WDDM 1.3 drivers, rather than the new WDDM 2.0 drivers needed to support DirectX 12. The article said that support will be offered "at a later date" for Fermi GPUs
In the meantime, NVIDIA, AMD and Intel have all released new drivers for their GPUs that currently support Windows 10 and DirectX 12. The NVIDIA updates are for the GeForce 353.62 WHQL drivers, while AMD has released its Catalyst 15.7.1 drivers that support DirectX 12 in its Radeon HD 7000 or newer GPUs. Intel's 15.40.4.64.4256 driver version adds DirectX 12 support for its Iris, Iris Pro and HD Graphics integrated GPUs found in its fourth and fifth generation Core processors.
The first game that will support DirectX 12 is the sci-fi RTS game Ashes of the Singularity from developer Oxide Games and publisher Stardock. The game is already available in a very early alpha version for people who pre-order it. It will come with a DirectX 12 benchmark as well. More DirectX 12 games, including Fable Legends, will be released later in 2015.
